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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Rockets' Win Streak Continues

January 6, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets' Luke Schelter and Edmonton Oil Kings' John Szabo, Blake Fiddler, and Marc Lajoie on the ice
Kelowna Rockets' Luke Schelter and Edmonton Oil Kings' John Szabo, Blake Fiddler, and Marc Lajoie on the ice
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets)

The Kelowna Rockets came back from an early three-goal deficit to extend their winning ways on Friday night, handing the Edmonton Oil Kings a 4-3 loss at Prospera Place.

Down by three goals after the opening period, the Rockets clawed back with four answered goals to win their first game of the season while trailing entering the third period. With the victory, Kelowna extended their win streak on home ice to six games.

"I guess it's the old adage, it's not how to you start the game but how you finish," said Rockets head coach Kris Mallette in his Taco Delhi postgame interview. "They're [Oil Kings] a hard-working team that is playing really confident right now, we came in and didn't do ourselves any favours in the first period for sure and in the second period as it wore on we started to find our game, but we can't keep doing this."

The Rockets got a pair of goals from Luke Schelter, while rookie defenceman Landon Cowper scored his first WHL goal. Mallette touched on getting secondary scoring from his group.

"When your name is called you've gotta step up, it was great to have Luke come through and score a big power-play goal for us early and then late. Cowper, I'm sure he'll tell his kids one day that it was prettier than it was, but you can't score if you don't shoot. I'm really happy that we're getting those contributions when our quote-on-quote top guys aren't really going."

GAME SUMMARY

Adam Jecho (10) opened the scoring just before the midway point of the opening frame, potting a power play goal. Nearly four minutes later Jecho (11) pushed the Oil Kings out to a two-goal lead. Skyler Bruce (12) would pad their lead heading into the first intermission.

Down by three, the Rockets elected to replace starter Jari Kykkanen in net with former Edmonton Oil King Jake Pilon to start the second period. Luke Schelter (6) scored the lone goal of the frame, redirecting Andew Cristall's shot past goaltender Kolby Hay 15:45 into the period while on the power play.

Rookie defenceman Landon Cowper (1) pinched down low along the left boards, firing a sharp-angled shot from just above the goal line that found its way into the net for his first WHL goal 3:30 into the third period. Cowper then teed up Rockets captain Gabriel Szturc (19) with a one-timer along the slot to tie the game up at 11:47. Schelter then charged up the ice from his own zone along the left side through the neutral zone, releasing a shot from the top of the left faceoff circle that worked its way into the net to give the Rockets their first lead of the game 1:17 after Szturc's goal.

ADDITIONAL STATS

The Rockets record is now 18-16-2-0

Kelowna's power play was 1/4 on the night, while Edmonton was 1/4 with the man advantage

The Rockets outshot the Hitmen 43-21

Jari Kykkanen stopped 9/12 shots, while Pilon turned aside all nine shots fired on him through 40 minutes of action

Recording three assists on the night, Rockets leading scorer Andrew Cristall extended his point streak to seven games

This was the lone meeting between the two this season

UP NEXT

The Rockets will look to continue their winning ways tomorrow night when they face the Wenatchee Wild on the road at 6:00 pm.

Kelowna's next home game is set for Wednesday, January 10 when they'll host the Seattle Thunderbirds for a Fan First Menu game. The Fan First Menu is available at all Monday to Wednesday regular season games, featuring $2 hot dogs and $5 Lucky Lager beers.

Single Game Tickets for all Rockets games can be purchased:

Online at selectyourtickets.com

By calling Select Your Tickets at 250-762-5050

Or by visiting the Select Your Tickets box office at the Prospera Place box office. The box office is open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and opens at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday home game days.

Six and twelve game Mini Packs for the Kelowna Rockets season are now on sale through Select Your Tickets.

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics




Images from this story

Kelowna Rockets' Luke Schelter and Edmonton Oil Kings' John Szabo, Blake Fiddler, and Marc Lajoie on the ice
Kelowna Rockets' Luke Schelter and Edmonton Oil Kings' John Szabo, Blake Fiddler, and Marc Lajoie on the ice
(Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from January 6, 2024


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